I’m happy to take a yearly break from diabetes outreach to participate in HIV/AIDS advocacy in honor of the many friends I have  lost to AIDS.

For the past four years I have been hosting an annual Sangria Showdown event benefiting AIDS WALK NEW York and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC).  An organization founded in 1981, GMHC offers hands-on support services in New York City and education and advocacy for hundreds of thousands nationwide.

4th Annual Sangria Showdown benefiting AIDS WALK New York is on Friday, March 10, 6pm – 9:30 pm at Rockbar NYC. Help us choose Rockbar’s favorite Sangria recipe for Summer 2017 and raise money for Gotham Volleyball’s AIDS WALK New York team.

Did you know that HIV treatments may raise your risk of developing diabetes?

If you have diabetes, HIV treatments may also make it harder for you to control your blood glucose levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association your doctor may want to screen you for diabetes before you begin treatment for HIV. Some HIV treatments and treatments for its complications may increase blood glucose and lead to diabetes. If you have one or more of the diabetes risk factors listed above, you are more likely to develop diabetes.

If you develop high blood glucose, your doctor may change your therapy to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.

If you are pregnant and treating HIV, you should be screened for gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks’ gestation. Your doctor may want you screened earlier in your pregnancy if you are taking certain HIV medications, especially if you have another risk factor for diabetes.

If you have diabetes and start taking some HIV medications, you may need to check your blood glucose levels more often and your doctor may add more diabetes medications to help control your blood glucose levels.

People taking metformin plus certain HIV treatments may be at higher risk of lactic acidosis. If you have liver or kidney problems, or you binge drink or drink a lot of alcohol regularly, you are also at higher risk of lactic acidosis. Discuss your medications, alcohol habits, and general health with your doctor.

Come join us for the 4th Annual Sangria Showdown on March 10, 6 – 9:30 PM at Rockbar NYC. $10 Donation at Door (Purchase includes free tasting tickets and raffle).

Taste all the different Sangria recipes and vote for your favorite Sangria. Enjoy Drink Specials, Live Entertainment and help Gotham Volleyball raise money for AIDS WALK New York.

Special Tribute George Michael by Jorge Altamirano.

Do you make amazing sangria? Enter your favorite Sangria recipe in Gotham’s fourth Annual Sangria Showdown. To participate in the Sangria Showdown, you must 1-3 people on your team who will help you make your Sangria recipe on site, serve tastings to the crowd and promote your recipe to the judges. 

Submit your original Sangria recipe and name via e-mail (msznyc@aol.com) by Friday, March 3, 2017. Rockbar will supply red or white wine and mixers for your Sangria recipe. Additional items like secret ingredients and exotic liquors need to be purchased by your team.   A winner will be determined by a combination of popular votes and the judge panel’s decision on the night of the Showdown. 

Proceeds benefit Gotham Volleyball’s AIDS WALK New York.